Valve



March 9, 1937. R. E. NEW'ELL VALVE Filed July 30, 1930 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES VALVE Robert E. Newell, Irwin,

shaw Thermostat Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Pa., assignor to Robert- Youngwood, Pa.,

Application July 30, 1930, Serial No. 471,723

12 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of fluid control, and more particularly to the control of fluids utilized for heating purposes by means of suitable burners or burner systems.

It is customary in the art to which my invention relates, to effect such control by means of thermostatic or pressure operated valves. Such valves as heretofore used, insofar as I am aware, have been of two general types. For purposes of convenience these types maybe referred to as the throttling type and the so-called snapaction type, the difierences between which are well recognized. The throttling type may 'in turn be considered as divisible into gradual acting and quick acting structures, the difference between these two usually comprising a system of leverage. Such leverage, however, no matter how greatly it may be capable of multiplying movement, does not give a true snap action.

Both types of valves as before referred to possess certain desirable characteristics peculiar to the types, and which I have found may be advantageously combined by a novel structure in accordance with my invention. It will now be apparent that one of the objects of my invention is to provide a unitary article of manu- Ifacture by which such combined advantages may be realized without the acompanying limitations of either type when used individually.

In accordance with a preferred method of carrying out my invention, there is provided a valve such that a fraction of its total capacity, which fraction may be either relatively large or small, may be opened or closed with a snap, while the remainder of the valve capacity is made available or cut off by a gradual or throttling action upon further changes in conditions which it is desired to maintain relatively constant, such, for example, as further increases or decreases in temperature beyond those at which the snap action occurs. I

In the accompanying drawing I have shown more or less diagrammatically, for purposes of illustration only, certain preferred embodiments of my invention. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly broken away or in section, illustrating one form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the valve structure;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the adjustable stop screw; and

Figure 4 is a view partly in elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, there is illustrated a valve comprising a suitable casing 2, having inlet and outlet connections 3 of usual construction, the flow between which is controlled by a novel valve 5 structure in accordance with my invention. This valve structure comprises a seat 4 with'which cooperates a main valve 5, the main valve being guided and maintained in the desired central relation to the seat by projections 6 herein illustrated as pins threaded in the valve. Upon opening or closing of the main valve 5, a given capacity of the valve is controlled by a throttling action as will hereinafter be more fully understood.

Provided in the main valve 5 is a port or series of ports 7, the flow through which is controlled by a supplemental valve 8, preferably concentric with the main valve and seating thereon. Upon movement of the supplemental valve relatively to the main valve, a fraction of the valves total capacity is controlled by a snap action.

The preferred construction of the supplemental valve 8 by means of which the desired action thereof is obtained is preferably that disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 470,784, filed July 26, 1930, now Patent No. 1,988,956, issued January 22, 1935. Such a construction comprises a snap disk 9 of concavo-convex type adapted to occupy only one extreme position or the other. This spring or snap member, preferably in the form of a disk, may be carried by the supplemental valve as shown more particularly in Figure 2 by providing the supplemental valve with a peripherally extending flange or rib Ill adapted to be turned inwardly over the edge of the flexible disk and thus hold it in position. The upper surface ll of the supplemental valve may be cut away or otherwise recessed below the flexible member so as to permit movement thereof from the position shown in the drawing into the opposite extreme with the same convex downwardly.

Threaded upwardly through the main valve 5 is a stop screw l2 illustrated more particularly in Figure 3 as having a central bore containing a spring l4 effective for urging a push pin [5 upwardly to the extent permitted by the engagement between a shoulder IS on the push pin and the shoulder formed by the inturned edge I! on the stop screw. The construction of the parts is preferably such that the free end of the push pin l5 extends-beyond the end of the adjustable stop screw a short distance equal to slightly more than half of the total flexing distance of the snap member 9. The outside diameter of the upper end of the stop screw is such as to slide easily within a central opening I8 in the supplemental valve 8.

Located in concentric relationship to the stop screw, and illustrated as surrounding a boss IS on the main valve, is a spring 20 bearing at its opposite end against a cap 2|, and yieldingly urging the main valve against its seat 4.

Extending through the valve casing in opposition to the spring 20, is an adjustable screw 22 carrying a disk 23 at its lower end, the disk being of such diameter as to overlie the rib l0, and thereby limit the opening movement of the supplemental valve under the influence of the snap member 9.

For applying pressure to the snap member to cause it to reverse its position, there is illustrated an actuating rod 24 adapted to be engaged by an adjustable screw 25 carried by a lever 26. This lever is in turn adapted to be moved in any desired manner, as by a suitable form of temperature responsive mechanism (not shown) as well understood in the art, and constituting no part of the present invention.

The valve having been properly calibrated, and the indicator, with which such structures are provided set at a temperature of say for example, if the medium being controlled is at a temperature of for example, the parts of the valve will be inthe position, illustrated in Figure 1, wherein they are efiective for preventing fluid flow through the casing. cools to a temperature of 130, the pressure built up on the snap member 9 by the actuating rod 24 will cause it to reverse its position, the upward movement of its edge portion lifting the supplemental valve and opening the port or ports 1. The size and number of these ports, as well as the extent of opening movement of the supplemental valve will determine the fraction of the total valve capacity thus controlled by the snap action. This may vary from a relatively small fraction to any desired larger fraction. Should the fraction turned on by the snap action not be suificient to maintain a temperature of 130, under the example given, the cooling action of the medium will continue until some lower temperature of 120, for example, is reached. Since the snap member 9 is in engagement with the upper end of the stop screw l2, the pressure of the rod during the further cooling will be transmitted to the main valve. Acting as it does, in opposition to the spring 20, will be effective for opening the main valve to an extent determined by temperature conditions. Thus there is secured an operation characterized by an initial snap action, followed by a subsequent throttling action.

Upon a reversal of temperatures, the release of pressure from the main valve 5 will permit it to gradually close. Thereafter, at a predetermined temperature, the snap action will occur and completely cut off the supply of fluid being controlled.

In other words, the valve functions as a snap valve when the medium being heated is at or above a given temperature setting, while at all points 10, for example, or more, below such temperature setting it functions as a throttling valve.

With a given construction, the capacity controlled by the snap action may be varied with relation to the total capacity of the valve by means of the adjustments provided. Thus, for example,

When the medium.

by backing off the adjustable screw 22 and the screw stop l2, a further opening movement of the supplemental valve will be obtained, thereby lifting it further from the main valve and permitting a freer flow of fluid through the supplemental port or ports "I.

To those skilled in the art it will be apparent that the valve structure described is further advantageous in that it prevents jamming in case of extreme temperature changes. Should the medium being controlled become too hot, the actuating rod 24 may move freely away from the snap member. Should it become too cool, continued pressure on the snap member will not be injurious thereto since it may yield bodily with the main valve.

In Figure 4 of the drawing there is illustrate. a slightly modified embodiment of the invention in which parts corresponding to parts heretofore described in detail-are designated by the same reference characters having a prime afiixed thereto. In this figure the valve instead of being actuated by a tube and rod, for example, is actuated by pressure changes in a bellows or the like 21 within a suitable housing 28 carried by spacing bolts 29 projecting from the valve casing 2'.

Since the action of a bellows is normally just the reverse of the action obtained with a rod and tube, the bellows contracting when cool and expanding when hot, provision is made for changing this characteristic operation. This is effected in the present case by providing a resistance coil (30), the circuit for which is closed by a remote thermostat (not shown) operating to close said circuit when the temperature falls below a given point. The closing of the circuit develops the necessary heat for expansion of the fluid which in turn causes the bellows to collapse and opens the fuel supply valve, first with a snap, and then a throttling movement.

The use of an internal bellows and the pressure on the outside of the bellows by fluid instead of on the inside, does not change the operation of the bellows, so far as the valve is concerned. That is, its operation would be the same if the fluid was placed inside'of the bellows and the bellows supported in a suitable cage.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing forming a part thereof, the advantages of the invention will be clearly understood; It will also be understood that the invention is such that it may be practiced by changes in the representative construction and operations herein disclosed without departingeither from the spirit'of my invention or the scope of'my broader claims.

I claim:

1. In a valve, an actuating member, a main valve controlled thereby and having a port therein, a supplemental valve controlled thereby and cooperating with said port, and means for giving a snap action to the supplemental valve.

2. In a valve, an actuating member, amain valve controlled thereby and having a port therein, a supplemental valve controlled thereby and carried by' the main valve for cooperation with said port,.and means for giving a snap action to the supplemental valve. f

3. In a valve, an actuating member, a main valve controlled thereby and having a port therein, a supplemental valve controlled thereby and cooperating with said port, means for giving a snap action to the supplemental valve, and yielding means relieving any tendency toward jamming of the parts.

4. In a valve, an actuating member, a main valve controlled thereby and having a port therein, a supplemental valve controlled thereby and carried by the main valve for cooperation with said port, means for giving a snap action to the supplemental valve, and yielding means relieving any tendency toward jamming of the parts.

5. In a valve, a plurality of substantially concentric valve members with one'of the members carried by another, means for actuating both of said members, and means for giving a snap action to one oisaid members. i

- 6. In a valve, a valve member, a flexible element secured to said member and carried thereby for operating the same to impart a snap action thereto, means for actuating said element, and a second valve member also actuated by said means, said second valve member having a port therein controlled by the first valve member.

7. In a valve, an actuating member, and a plurality of valves controlled thereby, one of said valves having a snap action and another of said valves having a throttling, action, said last mentioned valve having a seat for the valve having a snap action.

8. In a valve, an actuating member, a plurality of valves controlled thereby, and means for imparting a snap movement to one only of said valves, another of said valves having a seat for the valve having a snap movement.

9. In a valve, an actuating member, a plurality of valves controlled thereby with one of the valves carried by and having a seat on another of said valves, and means for imparting a snap action movement to one only of said valves.

10. In a valve, a casing providing an inlet and outlet with a port therebetween, a main valve member cooperating with said port, a supplemental valve member cooperating with said port, and means for eflecting a snap-action movement of said supplemental valve member and a throttling action of said main valve member.

11. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, and means for controlling flow from said inlet to said outlet, said means comprising a valve, an operating member, a lost motion connection therebetween, a second valve in said first mentioned valve, and means actuated 'by movement of said operating member to take up said lost motion for causing said second valve to open a predetermined amount.

12. The combination with a valve body having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therebetween, of a slow moving valve for cooperating with said seat, a snap valve carried by the slow moving valve, an actuating member adapted to open said slow moving valve after a predetermined movement of such actuating member, and snap action means responsive to the predetermined movement of said actuating member for operating said snap valve while the slow moving valve remains closed.

ROBERT E. NEWELL. 

